Gear-schifting mechanism



Jan. 26 1926.

R. w. lvms GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Fild July .21, 1922 e sheets-sheet `2 Jan.` 26 1,926.

R. w. lVlNs GEAR SHIFTING MECH/mmm 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July A2l, 1922 manto@ retenes .im 25,1926.

entre RAYMOND W. Winsor BATTLE, CREEK, momenti; Y

A GEAR-sementi; -M'ECHANrsnc Application fneir'iuiyzi, 1922. 'serii no." 576,542.

To 'all fo/0m t may concern.

Be it known that I, RAYMOND W.' IvI'Ns, .a citizen ofthe United States, residingiat Bab' tie Creek,y in the countywof Calhoun and State of Michigan,- have invented'r certain` new and useful Improvements in a Greer.- Shit'ting Mechanism, ot which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates toa gear shitting mechanism especially usefull in conjunction with an automobile and has for its principal object to provide meansltor elec tricallyshifting the transmission gears from low through to high as the speed of the vehicle increases without attentionon' the part ot' the operator.

y Another importantl object ofthe `invention is to provide means for preventing'anv two `fears from sluiting simultaneouslynnd to.

prevent two gears from being meshed at the same tune.V

Another object vof the invention is' to pro" vide a mechanism of this nature which-will operate automatically without attention on i the part ot the operator yor which may he operated so as to shift thegears'by tliejin` dependent use of switches closed'individuaL ly by the, operator; f

lVith the above and vmunero'us other'objects in' view, as willappear las the description progresses, the 1nvention resides'm certain novel features of; construction,y andthe combination and arrangement of parts as will'lie hereinafter more Afullydescribed end claimed. l

In the drnWing.:-.-' Figure 'l is 'a top plan of showing` the same in conjunction with the necessary portions of an automobile, l

Figure 2 I'isa detailed View showing'tlle mechanism tor preventing two gears `from heinf; shifted"simultaneously, Figure 3 is anjelevatlonqof some the solenoids used for shitting the gears,

Figure 4 is len end elevation" of? the struc-A ture shown in Figure 8," f

Figure 5 is a detailed elevation 'of the clutch control solenoid and lits col-operating Figiure 6 1s a detailed section through me4 thatac'cess may be had housing,T of the universel .joint of the drive shatt'ofthe la'iitoinoloile showing a ybeveled gear. att-ached thereto,

vligure luis a transverse ysection 'taken f therethrough also showing tion,

'the beam in see- Fivur'e 8' is a detailedusection taken suhstantlally on the'line 8--8 ing` in' thefdirectionjofthe arrovv,..

ff Figure 9 is a section 'taken suhstentially on theline 9-9 direction of the section taken i substantially Hon the line10-10 otFigureS, f f

Figure '1lis a top plan of the mechanism' shown in Figure 10, i

Figure 12`is a to showing my switc -Figure 13' switches 76,

in conjunction withthis mechanism,

Figurel is side elevationy ofthel cheek-v 'ing mechanism for the clutch pedal, Y

Figure 1 6 is an end elevation thereof,4 and Figure 17 is an elevation or'l the piston and ring therefor,

Referring' to the drawing in detail it will mechanism ismountedupon I he seen that the A the Y chassis of an automobile. The4 strap irons 'lnnd 2' and extend transversely relation'to each other 'for supporting the plates 3. The solenoids N, L, R, H, and I, are mounted -upon'this plate as arezalso the -individuanv ietf-ered :e, e and D., The

rods 13 andfM are fastened tothe shifting rod in the transmission ease 8 4 and tothe armature rods QO'and 2l. A box-15 containsv vof Figure '8 lookingy in the plan of e, steeringjwheelz .y plete `attached thereto,

is a plan or" one or' the o' Figurel: is afdiagrnm of thefcir'euits used y are fasten-ed' to y.the chassis thereof in spaced circuit ycloscrs 76,beingfourinnumber'and i my mechamsm the automatic governor switeh controlled der` :vice which will be later described in detail and is fastenedA to the late 3 and the transdie straps` and c24:. This box 15 is-provided with' a. door. 16 -so for repairs` and they like. -A `pin ,2.5 is disposed on' the armature bar 21 between the solenoids N'an'd 'L but adjacent vthesolenoid yL. A pair of pinsff22 are disposedon the to the interior thereof 4armature bar 21 vone `being situated between the solenoids'N and L and the other bein' situated between the solenoids R and L.

similar `pair of pins 22, are disposed onthe' armature bar and are disposed one o nv each side of they solenoid H.

' The solenoid C is for operating the clutch pedal and 'is provided with the armature' barY 7 connected with'the lever 6 pivoted intermediate its' ends tothe bracket. Y The other end of this lever 6 lis attached to the rod 5 which rod has its ends lclamped to the clutchv pedal 31 as at 4..l l A The device' for preventing two gears-from being shifted simultaneously and alsopre-v venting two gears from beingmeshe'd at the same time is shown in Figures l,1 and 2. The

andpivoted `intermediate their el'ilds to .the member Q7.v y The end of the lever 18. .is piv- -oted to the solenoid bar 20l while the end of' the lever 19 extends abovethe armature bar Q1 and is' adapted tobe engaged by thejpin Q5 as Will be ex lained'hereinafter.

A universal Joint 33;.is provided in con` junction with the drive shaft 34. A beveled ear 32 is mounted upon this Adrive shaft .1. 4 and mesheswith a beveled gear 29 carried b vl the shaft 3Q whichv is iournalled at 35 and also in the end of the bracket 36 within the casing'l. The inner .end of this shaft is provided with Ithe beveled ygear .37 that' 'Y "'meslies with the beveled gear 38 carried at the upper end of tlieshait 40 which is journalled'in thebracket 39 and at 44. This shafty 40 is provided with a beveled gear 43 intermediateits ends that meshes with'a beveled -gear.42 carried yon the governor .shaft 52 ywhichis journalled at 49 and 50. .The governorv mechanismy 41 is of the centrifugal and tends to move the -grooved wheel 51. longitudinally on vits shaft 52. A leerer 45' is fulcrumed at' 46 andy has its lend disposed within the groove of the wheel 514 so as to bcfulcrumed therebyras this wheel is moved by the governor mechanism '41" longritudina'lly of the shaft 52., `As is shown 'to advantage.:injFigures 9 and 10 Athe mem` ybers ,Ll-7, 65, 6 6l `and'67form a race for the l 4mcenber. 48. `Adjacent 4thisl race. there are disposeda pluralitvof` switches 53,57-"and 18. 'The Contact 61. of eacho't theseswitehes is provided with a bearing 54'so thatit may with the contact 623mountedin the bushing 63 on the y.plate (i4 whereby a circuit is closed,` `for a purpose;hereinafter outlined. It 'is to he understood.that-this roller ormember 48v is'attached toa rod-48- and has its end bent so as to engagedfthe..elongatedslotin the end of the lever andm'y move to the posis,

inclusive.`

smallopening` 'n the` petcoek 83 and tions as indicated in Figure 9. From the description 'as it has thus far .progressed it will be seen thatI the speed ofI the drive shaft 34 controls the movement ofthe lever 45 and thislever inturn controls the l.closing ofthe three switches 53, 57 and 58- shown in Figure l9.

-In Figure 12 an "ordinary steering wheel j is disclsedat havin thereon 'the plate 71'.

upon which is :neunte the switches 1 to 7 Referring especially to Figures 5, 15, 16,

land 17s will be seen. that a' checking mechanism 78 is provided for the clutch pedal 31 whichis for they urpose of decreasing the closing speed l.ott e ,clutch. A'A iston 80 is mounted in the cylinder TS'and is provided levers 18 'and 1,9 are pivoted together at'26f-I" with the rines 79.' A connecting rod 81 is j attachedt the piston 840 by the pin8'2. A- petcock 83 normallyqopen 'is situated in the endcf the eylinders'78 "which is providedA valve head 85 is-seatableg `The springv 86. is held inplace `by thevnut 87 on. the rod`88'.

The cylinder 78' 1s provided with the trunnions` 89 adapted tofbe received ,in the apertures of thel plates 90 mounted onjthe base 91..v When the 'clutch pedal is moved downwardlyso asto openthe clutch theair in the cylinder will be compressed thereby` -forcing theilvalve 85 fromj1tsseatj84 and allowing the :air to escape. Whenthe pedal lOO is releasedso that its spring willipu-ll it to a, l

raised'. position-. 'so as'to closethe clutch, itA will move more .slowly y'because the air will' be sucked.v hito-.they cylinder through the course this lcylinder will fill very' slowly.' v

Referring to Figure l, i'nithevtransmission case '84. there is' provided the usual set' of stationary gears and the two sliding gears, not shown, as is well understood to produce ilof a reverse motion. ande'change of speed' of the propeller shaft, the'Jshiftingrods 13'and` ll4-are fastened to these slidingk gears, 14 beai :i

ing fastened' tolow and reverse gear and .13 to the intermediate and high gear.. j l

It' anelectric current is Lp'essed through sol'enoi'd L the armature bar. 21 will be moved intov this solenoid L andthe rod 14-Will be -movedinto the case 34 pushing the sliding lovv.. and" reverse' geary into- .low or first` position. If .an velectric current is passed 4through the -solenoidgIf the armature` bar` 20-fwil1 be drawn into the solenoid I and the e v rod 13 will hemoved outwardly of the'caseV 84"- pulling the'intermediate and high slid'- "lng gear into intermediatc'or second posi' tion. Ifthe .armature bar 21 were inthe solenoid Rholdig' low and reverse sliding geary 1n"rever sed positlomand yanfelectric4 current were passed through the solenoid N,

the plunger 21 WouldV 'be-drawn intol the solenoid L, 'moving the rod 14.- in the case 31 thereby pulling the 10W and reverse sliding gear out ot reverse position and into neutral position.

As the plunger 21 is drawn into the sole-y llowof'- current through the solenoid B and the clutch will close automatically as will be readily understood.

' would cause` the sliding low and reversegear v As was mentioned chore the mechanism shown in Figure 2und` also in Figure 1 prerentsthe two gears from shifting simultaneously and 1will also prevent the two gears Jrroni hein in mesh. at the same time; 1f the armatureghar 21 has been moved into solenoid L, the pin 25 would he ngainstthe `lever 19 lfind the geurs--- Wouldlfhe-y in er low 1 .-.positioliff an electric current'werepassed through the' solenoid I, the armature' bei* 20 would `hc dr'aivninto the solenoid I, actuating lever 18 with it, thereby ulcruming lever 19 against pin l5-und pushingthe armature har'21 out of the solenoid L( This to be placed in a. neutral position before the intermediate und low sliding-'gear were meshed. I

From the description as it has thus far progressed, it is thought that' e clear understanding of the operation of the shifting mechanism muy he had by `reterring to Figure 14. Presuming that thel motor is running und it is desired to stort the automobile for\\urdl \'.jthe switch 1 is closed Wherehx" the current flows from the'hsttery 100 1. through the Wire 101, through switch l,

through Wire 102, through circuit closer 58, v`which is closed `h v the member 4&8, through wire,10. through .solenoid L, through Wire 102i, und returned to the hotterv through wire 105. This energizction of the solenoid L causes the armature hur 21 to more through the-"solenoid L. causing the pin 22 +o close the circuit closer 76A whereby the I current passes from `the buttery through. Wire 101,- through switch l, through Iwirev 103, through wlre 106, through circuit closer 76A, throughN WireI 107, through Wire 108,

vthrough Wire 109, through' solenoid- C,

through Wire 110, und through Wire to the buttery V,100. `This energizution of the solenoid C causes the clutch to move to an open position. After the pinv passes hy the circuit closer 76A' the solenoid C will he deenergized4 and the-gears will he shittedzto a low position and the clutch will retient,

@lowly to o closed position. At this tiros ordinary hund .shitting mechanism.

As thel speed of the propeller shutt increases the automatic meclmnism including the governorwill cause the member 48 to more upwardly breaking the circuitnt 5S thereby cusing the dcenergizntion of the so-A lenoid L and moving to an intermediate position so es to close the circuit closer 57. At this point the current will flow from the battery 100 through the Wire 101, through the switch 1, through the Wiie 102. through the Wire 111, through the circuit closer 57, through the Wire 112. through the Wire 113, through the solenoid I, through the wire 114, and through the Wire 105 to the battery 100. This energization of the solenoid L f causes the` armature har 20 to move therein through switch 1, thro lgh Wire 102, through Wire 115, through circ iit closer 76D. through wire 116, through wie 108, through wire 109. through solenoid C, through wire 110, und returned to the battery through Wire 105. This causes the clutch to move to'un open position While the gears ure being` shiftedl to theintermedizite position. After the pin 22 passes the circuit closer the circuit closer 76D will he open and the solenoid C deeuergized so that the clutch Will slowly vcurrent Will pass though the wire 101,

have heen' .shifted to the intermediate position. The engine is then accelerated und :1s .the vpropeller shaft increases in speed the automatic. device will he moved so that the iucrnher 48 will allow the circuit closer 57 to he opened und the circuit closer 53 to he closed.

The closing of the circuit closer allows the. current to pass from the battery 100, through the l'iattery 101. through the switch 1, through the Wire 102` through the Wire 10T. through the circuit closer 53, through the wire through the Wire 119, through the solenoid H, through. the Wire 120, and returned to the buttery through the Wire 105. This causes the cnergizution of thc -solemr-ir`rrH therehfy actuating the armature hanl- 20 so us tomove thereinto for shitting the gears to the high. position and in -so n'ioving the pin I22 will close' the circuit breakers 76C whereby a current passes from the battery 100, through the Wire 101,' through the sivitch 1, through the Wire 102, through the Wire 121, througli the circuit closer 7 6C, through the Wire 122, through the Wire 108, through the Wire 109, through solenoid C, through Wire 110, and returns to the battery through Wire 105. This energi- -zation ofther'solenoid C causes the clutch *move to a closed position after the gears ifi to' open as tlie'gears ai'e beingl shifted and as the pin 22 passes by the circuit closer V76B the soleiioid'C is dc'eiiergi'zed and the clutch will move to a closed position'sloivly after thegeiirs have been shifted vto a high posi. tion. i

Xs the propeller shaft continues to be yac# celerated the 4iuciiiber L1S Will bc moved so as to alloiv'the circuit closer to open thereby causing the deeiiergization ot the solenoid H and the gearswill remain in their high position. It the car is to be stopped the gas -throttle is almost closed.. The governor will deci-casein speed and the lever Will be 110 and 105 to the battery.

. and it can then be opened.

inovel ba. kivardly pushing the ineiriber 458 toward thii lower end o'f.' the bracelif. This inem r 48 will close thev circuit closer 53 as 'it pas es but this will-haue. no effect upon the gear'sas they are alieauv in a iliigih position.

As the 'n'ieinbcr 548 `|engag`es" the. circuit f closer` 5,9 so as,to close! the same 4the gears Willtbe shiftedto aniiitcrinc/diate position as previously .eitplaiifiecl` and as'tliis member engages the circuit closerfS tlc gears will be .shifted to a loiv position ai; explained. When itisdesired to stop lthe car the switch is opeii and vthe yWiltclnclosed so that thecurreiitl may pass hizough the Wire 101, Wire ,123, switch 3, '\vire 124, solenoid N, Wire 125. and returned to the bat.-

. tery through. Wire 105 thereby energizing' the 4solenoid N and drawingl the armature bar 21 back through solenoid'L` so that the low -and reverse slidinggear will be in a neutral position.' About five seconds is'the length of time necessary to leave the switch Bclosed When it is desired to place the gears in. reverse the sivit'ch 2 is closed causing th'e current to pass from the battery through the wirev 101, ivi'ie 126; switch 2, Wire 108, v'vire 109, through the solenoid C, through Wires If the circuiti closers 57 'and' 'fail to Work andthe automatic device fails to v'vork,

This causes thel This enerc The: switch lthe gearsimay be shifted by closing the switches 5, 6 and 7 `moving`..the' clutch to an open position by means ofthe switch 211sv previously indicated. WhenV the switch 5 is closed .the current passes through* tlieWire 101, wire 129, switch 5, wire 130, Wire 131,l soi'enoid L,'"1 and returns to. the battery through ivires 104, and 105. .When the switch G is closed the current passesflmm the battery through wire 101, through wire 131,'

switch 6,l wire 132, wire 113, solenoid, I, wire 114,- and wire 105 to the battery. "When the' switch 7 is closed the current passes from the y battery through the' Vwire 101, wire 133, switch 7, wire 134, wire 119, solenoid H, wire 120', and Wire 1.05 to they battery. Having-thus described lily-invention what I claim as new isz- 1 In combination, ab vehicle, kdriving 'means associated with the vehicle lincluding a transmission having a plurality of speeds,

sole'iioids for -o `eration' of each speedof breaker, a springassociated with each-lever normally holding the circuit breaker `in an open position, a'i'acewaydis osed adjacent' the levers, a member movab e 1in the' -race` way contacting with the levers soas toclose .transmissiom cir uits including the solenoid" and circuit breakers, a lever for each circuit previously the circuit breakers, a governor. controlled bythe speed of the driving means, and means actuated by the governor for moving' the member inthe'raceway. r .i

'2. In combination, a vehicle, driving `means associated with the vehicle including -a transmission having a pluralityof speeds, solenoids"` for operation of each speed' of transmission, circuits including the solenoid and circuit' breakers, a lever foreach circuit jbreaker, ay spring associated withl each lever normally holding the circuitfbreaker 1n' an openA position, 'a raceivay-dispos'ed adjacent thc levers, a member movable inthe raceway contacting withjthe leversso'as to closev the circuit breakers, a governor' controlledby @van i.

the speed of the driving means, andanother lever disposed adjacent thegoveitnor, saidy governor including a 'grooved Wlieel shifts 'able' bythe governor' as it changes' its speed,

saidlast mentioned" lever having' one e-nd in engagement with vthe grooved Wheel andthe able in tli'eraceivay.. i, In vtestimonyvvhereof I attixt my signature.y

. aavnonn'wgrvinsgother in .engagement-with the member mov 

